We all have our routines. And on hot holidays ours barely varies. Swim before breakfast; Mel’s golden rule. She does it in the Finchley drizzle, she certainly won’t miss it in the glorious sunshine and heat of Kea Island. I’m there. Like a puppy. Following. In her wake. I complete my statutory 3 lengths, she’s already done 15. I get bored, lie in the sun and wait for her to complete 40, or 60 or 80 lengths before I’m set loose on the buffet.

But here in our quite frankly gorgeous little hotel in Kea it’s changed. Two reasons. Firstly the pool is fucking freezing. Which is actually brilliant when you’re hot. But limits how long you can swim. Fine for me, not so good for Mrs Marathon Swimmer. And secondly, emphasis on the ‘little’ hotel. It’s a true boutique. And the pool sits right up to the breakfast tables on the terrace. And would you be happy splashing chlorine into everyone’s lattes? Or being watched as you struggle up and down?

We resolved this issue. There’s a little beach, 5 minutes away. I took a pic of it this morning. We go there in the afternoons because the sea is completely flat, totally clean and clear and warm, and it’s really pretty. So this morning we did our morning swim… in the sea!!! I know, it’s against all the rules but much as I find pool swimming boring as fuck, I find sea swimming totally fab. And the sea, according to Google, is about 24 degrees here. The pool… isn’t. We swam across the bay. With some fishes. Just small ones, no bigger than 18 to 25 Euros each, I reckon. There was no-one else on the beach at about 9.30 because we all know that Greeks are lazy fuckers, it’s a national characteristic. That’s how the Romans took over the world; they just got up before 7 while all the ancient Greeks were sleeping.

I can’t help be amused that since Pager-gate on Tuesday followed by ‘exploding other things Wednesday’, things like electric scooters and bikes, solar panels, all manner of electronic stuff, the world is calling out for ‘negotiations’ and ‘diplomatic solutions’. And I think, what part of the word ‘terrorists’ don’t the international press understand? Hezbollah, like Hamas are terrorists. There is no negotiation possible or worthwhile. These are people who behead children and take selfies whilst doing it. And no-one ever notices that in all the discussions about how a ‘2-state solution’ being the be-all and end-all of Middle East aspirations, that Hamas has never claimed that as a demand. Nor would Hezbollah, except all their spokesmen are currently either dead or in hospital having their ‘phone ears’ stitched back on. They don’t want a 2-state anything. They want it all. Along with the death of the current inhabitants.

But heh, I’m resting, sunbathing and, swimming in the sea. You’re in charge of international events.

Happy Thursday

A xxxx